Nottingham Forest got a reality check when they went to the DW Stadium on Sunday as Paul Cook's Wigan beat the Reds 1-0 in a game where Sabri Lamouchi made five changes. 

The Frenchman rung the changes on Sunday as Forest prepared for a three-game week which would see them take on Wigan, Hull City and Reading as they try to retain their place in the play-off places.

One of the changes made was to drop top-scorer Lewis Grabban for Rafa Mir, a move which backfired and saw them struggle in front of goal at the DW. Mir had a chance to equalise for the away side towards the end but he fluffed his effort wide of the near post, a chance that the likes of Grabban would of relished.

Garry Birtles spoke about the decision to not play the forward to Nottinghamshire Live.

'I must admit, I found Forest's team selection for that game to be pretty bizarre. Sabri Lamouchi has made changes before and it has worked, but this time it backfired,' said Birtles.

'Seeing Lewis Grabban was on the bench must have been a real boost to Wigan when the teams were announced, with Lamouchi making five changes.

'I understand making changes with three games in a week, but for me it was the wrong time when you have just had two weeks off after an international break.

'This not a case of pinning the defeat on Grabban's replacement, Rafa Mir.

'He tried hard, if anything he tried too hard. That's understandable because he's getting his big chance to shine and he was desperate to succeed, but he didn't take it'.

The Verdict

Birtles has a right to question the decision made by Lamouchi as he dropped the club's top goalscorer and it was a bizarre decision, given how difficult of a place to go Wigan is.

The Frenchman is still learning the English game and with three games in the space of a week, you can see why he wanted to rest him, but in the Championship that is risky with how tight each and every game can be.

Grabban will more than likely start against Hull City on Wednesday night as the Reds look to get back to winning ways, and Lamouchi may opt to go back to the side that beat Brentford a week earlier.

Nottingham Forest currently sit two points behind Leeds United who are in the automatic promotion places and they will be looking to keep in touch with them, and go above them when Hull come to the City Ground.